"Where are you girls going?" Madame Fu called out as she saw Bai Ming, Fu Fei, and Fu Li heading toward the gate.
"Ma, I already told you," Fu Li replied, turning back slightly as she spoke. "We are going to look for work. We cannot let only brother and sister-in-law handle everything. We have to contribute somehow."
Her voice was firm, but not disrespectful.
Madame Fu frowned.
"This is not the time to be wandering outside," she said. "It is not safe."
"Ma, we will be careful," Fu Fei added gently. "We will not go far, and we will come back early before anything happens. You do not have to worry about us."
But before she could say more, Fu Li had already grabbed her hand, along with Bai Ming's, and started pulling them toward the gate.
"Come on, let us go," Fu Li said.
"Wait— you…" Madame Fu tried to stop them, but they were already moving too fast.
"Fu Li!" she called out. "You stubborn girl, you never listen!"
But the three of them were already out of the courtyard.
